Actuator with multiple reversely operable output means



March 19, 1968 v, U D R ET AL 3,373,528

ACTUATOR WITH MULTIPLE REVERSELY OPERABLE OUTPUT MEANS Filed Aug. 2,1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l JIIIT/IIII/I/III/ IlIIIflI/I/III/II/[nIIII-IIIIIIIIIIII/IIIII11I j Jzscpv? 592M417.

a Flt/9452 I March 19, 1968 v, T D ET AL 3,373,528

ACTUATOR WITH MULTIPLE REVERSELY OPERABLE OUTPUT MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 2, 1965 I I I I I I -4 .I I I I I I I I I I I ...I

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Melvin A. 0. 77714 Jfaseyfi {a I I #77 D. v. TINDER ET 3,373,528

March 19, 1968 ACTUATOR WITH MULTIPLE REVERSELY OPERABLE OUTPUT MEANS 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 2, 1965 March 19, 1968 Filed Aug. 2, 1965 D.V.T|NDER ETAL 3,373,528

ACTUATOR WITH MULTIPLE REVERSELY OPERABLE OUTPUT MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4March 19, 1968 Q D. v. TINDER ET AL 3,373,528

ACTUATOR WITH MULTIPLE REVERSELY OPERABLE OUTPUT MEANS Filed Aug. 2,1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 r l um z f/ZZ M4 77 %M Z I z I lfszvz'n L ziman BYJive/ 7 FJamdA z' 6 roy/v.03!

United States Patent ABSTRAQT U E THE DESELOSURE There is hereindisclosed a power actuator arrangement for a vehicle window comprising apair of rotatable actuator arms driven by a reversible axial air gaptype electrical motor having a disc armature through harmonic motiontransmission means.

This invention relates to actuator apparatus and, more particularly, towindow actuator apparatus adapted to open and close vehicle windows andthe like.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a new andimproved actuator device having multiple reversely operable outputmeans. The reversely operable output means of such an actuator devicemay be variously connected to an actuable device.

in the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed in detailhereinafter, the inventive principles are incorporated in windowactuating mechanism for use with windows mounted in vehicle doors, tailgates, and the like. While particularly advantageous results areattainable in vehicular usage as a window actuator, it will beunderstood that the principles may be otherwise variously embodied andemployed. In vehicular usage as a window actuator, the actuator devicemay be variously employed with various types of window structurerequiring varying types of movement due to limitations in availablespace and in overall vehicular design.

For example, some types of window structure are adapted to be moveduniformly between open and closed positions while other types areadapted to be moved by a monkey motion which is not uniform. Thus somewindows, such as in sedans, are adapted to be moved substantiallyvertically between open and closed positions while other windows, suchas rear quarter windows in hard tops, are adapted to be moved by bothvertical and horizontal components of motion.

Furthermore, the mounting of windows in vehicular usage variessubstantially depending upon styling considerations. In someinstallations, for example, guide channels are provided to guide thewindow during the entire movement between open and closed positionswhile in other installations the window is only partially supported byguide channels and in still other installations guide channel supportmay be dispensed with entirely.

Therefore, it is intended that the following detailed description of theinvention be illustrative of the various ways of utilizing the inventiveprinciples and illustrative of the various vehicular window arrangementswith which the invention principles may be employed.

Another main object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedactuator arrangement comprising a relatively thin cylindricalmotor-transmission unit and connecting and supporting means foroperatively mounting the motor-transmission unit between the actuateddevice and support means therefor.

In general, the invention resides in an actuator arrange ment comprisingan actuable device movable between spaced positions relative to asupport means, an actuator device reversely rotatable to effect movementbetween the spaced positions and having a first reversely rotatable out-Patented Mar. 19, 1968 put means and a second reversely rotatably outputmeans with the output means being rotatable in opposite directions, andpivotal means pivotally supporting and connecting the actuator devicebetween the actuable device and the support means and permittingmovement of the actuator device relative to the support means as theactuable device is moved between the spaced positions.

The inventive concepts have been incorporated in an illustrativeembodiment as shown on the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevational view, with portions broken away,of an actuator arrangement for a vehicle window mounted in a vehicledoor and showing the window in a lowered position;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 inan intermediate operational position;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ina raised Window position;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 inFIG. 7;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the actuator mechanism andconnecting linkage of FIG. 1; and

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of the actuator mechanism ofFIG. 1 and alternative non-symmetrical connecting linkage capable ofproducing a monkey motion.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an illustrative embodiment of the invention isshown to comprise an actuable device in the form of a vehicle windowunit 10 suitably mounted for movement between spaced positions relativeto support means in the form of spaced vertically extendingchannel-shaped guides 12, 14 located within a compartment formed by avehicle door or the like 16. A channelshaped sash 13 and gasket 19, FIG.6, may be utilized to support the glass window and a pair of spacedhorizontally extending guideways 20, 22 are attached thereto. It will beunderstood that the window construction may be varied as necessary ordesirable and that the window unit may be otherwise mounted in anyconventional or suitable manner. Furthermore, it will be apparent thatthe broad aspects of the invention are not limited to window actuatorsor to vehicular usage.

The actuator mounting means comprises support means 30, FIG. 7, in theform of an elongated vertically extendin g bracket which is suitablymounted within the vehicle door as by, for example, transverse flanges32, 34. A guide means 36 in the form of a vertically extending rod ismounted in spaced relation to the bracket 30 by means of suitablesupport flanges 38, 40. A slide means 42, FIGS. 3 and 4, is slidablymounted on the rod 36 and comprises a tubular portion 44, slidablyreceiving the rod, and transversely extending bifurcated wing portions46, 48.

The actuator means comprises a combined transmission-motor means unit 50movably mounted relative to the support means by connecting means showngenerally at 52. In the presently preferred embodiment, the unit 50 isrotatably supported, as shown in FIG. 8, by a supporting shaft means 54provided with a head portion 56 extending through an aperture in thebracket 3t and fixedly mounted therein by a flange portion 58 and asuitable fastener 60. The central axis 61 of the shaft means provides acommon central axis of rotation for the actuator means as hereinafterdescribed in detail.

The transmission-motor means unit 5% has a substantially cylindricaloverall peripheral configuration with a diameter of substantiallygreater length than the thickness or width. The transmission-motor meansunit is thus relatively thin and particularly well suited for use inconfined areas such as vehicle doors. in general, the motor meanscomprises a reversible electrical motor of the axial air gap type havinga disk armature. The transmission means comprises a harmonic driveoutput arrangement associated with a speed reduction unit. it will beapparent that the speed reduction unit components, the harmonic drivecomponents, and the motor components are interrelated and mutuallyinterdependent as hereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the transmission-motor means comprises a hubmember 62 rotatably mounted on the shaft 54 and held thereon between theflange portion 58 and suitable iastener means 64. A bearing sleeve d5may be provided between the hub 62 and the shaft 5d, and suitablebearing washers may be provided between the hub and the flange portionand between the hub and the fastener means 64.

A rotatable output arm means 66 is fixedly secured to the hub 62 about areduced diameter shoulder portion 63 and to an end plate 7% of the unit5%. The output arm means as is rotatably driven by a rotatable annularsplined output member 72 having internal'spline teeth and being fixedlysecured to the end plate 7il. Thus, the splined member 72 is rotatableabout the central axis 61 with the hub 62, the output arm means on, andthe end plate 70. A second rotatable annular splined output member '7 6having internal spline teeth 73 is mounted coaxially in abuttingengagement with the splined output member '72 at A locating ring may beattached to the splined output member 76 and provided with an internalface 82 in abutting engagement with the output member Another radiallyextending output arm means id is fixed to the annular splined outputmember '76. A portion of the radially extending output arm means 554 isradially enlarged to form a central motor partitioning plate portion ofsubstantially annular peripheral configuration. Plate portion 36effectively divides the actuator into a motor compartment 87 inconnection with a dished cover plate 83 which is securely fastenedthereto, and into a transmission compartment 89 in connection with theend plate '76.

The internally splined output members 72, '76 form part of a harmonicdrive arrangement and are adapted to be simultaneous y rotatably drivenin opposite directions by means of an annular flex spline member 9%.External teeth 9ft on the flex spline member are adapted to be flexedinto and out of driving engagement with the interna teeth on the outputmembers at circumferentially spaced peripheral locations. The flexspline and output splines have different numbers of teeth, i.e., atleast one output spline has a different number of teeth than the otheroutput spline and the flex spline. The number of teeth on the flexspline and output members and the number of areas of engagementtherebetween may be varied as is presently known in the harmonic driveart and discussed in detail in United States Patent No. 2,906,- 143issued to Musser. The harmonic drive is actuated by the motor meansthrough transmission means including planet roller means $2 mountedcircumferentialy about sun roller means 94-. Each planet roller means ismaintained in driving engagement with the hex spline at spacedperipheral locations as shown at 95. in the illustrative embodiment,three such planet roller means may be advantageously employed. Suitablebearing rings 96, 93 may be provided between the planet roller means 2and the plates 7t), 36. Suitable separator means ltltl may be utilizedto maintain the desired circumferential spacing of the planet rollermeans and a portion 1&2 may be utilized to axially locate the sun rollermeans relative to the planet roller means. Thus, it may be observed thatthe 4- power transmission means, comprising the sun roller means 94, theplanet roller means 92, the flexible spline member and the outputmembers '72, 76, are axially and radially confined relative to the shaftmeans S-"lwhile being radially spaced therefrom.

The motor means is integrally associated with the transmission means andcomprises a disk armature member uni fixedly mounted on and supportedand located radially and axially by the sun roller means Radiallyextending winding means are provided on the disk armature in aconventional manner and commutation means in the form of brush elementsengage the surface of the winding means. The brush elements areconnected by electrical leads to a suitable energy source throughsuitable control circuitry of the type now utilized in conventionalpower operated vehicle window systems. An annular multiple polepermanent magnet lid is mounted on the cover plate Armature 1% isrotatably supported by the sun roller means in axially spacedrelationship between the permanent magnet ilt? and the plate 846 forrotation within the flux path therebetween, plate 86 providing a returnflux path in conjunction with the cover plate 88. The details ofconstruction and operation of motors of this type are now known in theart and shown, for example, in copending United States patentapplication Ser. No. 288,152 filed lune 17, 1963. The details ofconstruction and connection of the motor means and the transm' sionmeans are shown in copending application Ser. l lo. 396,978 filed Sept.14, 1964. it is to be noted that the transr sionmotor means unit isrotatably supported by the shaft means 54 and that annular splinemembers as are is, rotatable about the shaft means 5 and are rotatablerelative to one another whereby the actuating arms as, are oppositelyrotatable about the central axis 61.

The actuator output arms are suitably connected to the window to enablethe window to be raised and lowered as the arms rotate.

Motion controlling means are utilizd to obtain the d :sired movement ofthe window when the actuator is o; atcd. The motion controlling meansmay talte any of a variety of forms whereby a desired output motion isattained. For example, guide means such as window guide channels may beutilized to control the motion of the actuable device, such as a window,or tide means in the form of linkage means connected to he actuator maybe utilized, or both guide channels lll means may be used. Furthermore,the linkage means may be symmetrical, as shown in PEG. 9, to producegenerally uniform motion, such as vertical non-uniform motion, such as apartial vertical, partial iorizontal, motion which may include bothreciprocating and swinging movement. 't v'hilc the illustrativeembodiment employs motion controlling means comprising both window guidechannels linkage means, either means can be used without the 0th theillustrative embodiment, as shown I the actuator outuut arms 6:1, arepivotally s sir-lac; connected at one end at 31%, l 2, respe tively, tothe winllt by means ill and mounted in the channel-shaped guides 11,noted that the pivatal axis of the arms s3, it i are spaced equidistancefrom is: central 61 of actuator means The other ends of the actuatoroutpu members 118, 12%. The opposite ends of the are pivotally connectedat 122, 12-; to the shown in detail in FIG. 4. The link members bowedsufficiently to accommodate the actuator casing therebetween in thelowermost position shown in 1 1.. it may pivots Ti l, H6.

in the lowered position of the window shown in PG. 1, the pivots lid,lid are located above the centre 61, the pivots 122, 124i and the slide42 are located at the top of the guide rod 36, and the pivots 1m, 11?.are located toward the inermost ends of their respective slides 2d, 22.When it is desired to raise the window, the motor means may beselctively operated in a direction causing upward rotation of the outputarm means 66 in the direction of the arrow 13d and upward rotation ofthe output arm means 84 in the direction of arrow 132 as shown inFIG. 1. As the window is raised. pivots Hit, 112 move upwardly aroundthe central axis 61 and outwardly in the slides 2t), 22, the pivotslist, 1316 move downwardly around the central axis oil, and the pivots122. 124 are moved downwardly with the slide d2 along the rod 36 to theintermediate position shown in FIG. 3. Further opposite upward rotativemovement of the output arims causes inward displacement of the pivots110, 112 along the slides 20, 22, further downward movement of thepivots lll l, file about the axis all, and further downward displacementof the pivots 122, 1 24 with the slide 4/ to the raised position shownin H6. 5. Thus, in the fully extended position, the pivots 11%, M2 and11 i, 116 have changed positions above and below the central axis 61.The pivots 11d, 11d and 12 5, 122 are vertically stacked and closelypositioned horizontally relative to a vertical plane including thecentral axis '61 and extending parallel to the direction of movement ofthe Window. The pivots Ltd, 112 are located further outwardly to provideoptimum support for the Window. When it is desired to lower the window,the motor means are reversely actuated to cause downward rotation of theoutput arm means 66, 8 in the direction of the arrows E34, 136 as willbe obvious.

Referring now 0 FIG. 9, a schematic representation is shown of thesynchronized window movement provided in the illustrative embodiment dueto the use of the symmetrical motion controlling linkage. The spacedpivotal connections 122, 124 are shown as a single pivot 123. Thedistances between the pivotal center 61 and the pivots Mb, 112, and thedistances between the pivotal center 61 and the pivots 11 i, 11-6 areequal. Thus the pivot points move symmetrically as shown in thediagrammatic representation of the movement in Phil. 9. In the loweredposition of the window, FIGS. 1 and 9, the pivot points are dcsignatedMd, 1123, 11 i, 116, 122, 123, 124 and the corresponding links are shownby solid lines in FIG. 9. Suecessively higher positions are shown inFIG. 9 by the dotted lines, the dash-dot-clash lines, thedash-dot-dot-dash lines, and the dash-dot-dot-dot-dash lines. The pivotpositions are designated, respecively, a, b, c, and d.

In FIG. 10, a non-symmetrical monkey linkage arrangement isschematically illustrated in a similar manner. The length of link 17?measured from the central axis 61 to the pivot 17d is the same as thelength of link .l-fiil measured from the central axis 61 to the pivot172 but, in the lowered position, the links are inclined at diiferentangles. The length of link 1822 measured from the central axis 61 to thepivot 1% is longer than the length of link 184 measured from the centralaxis 61 to the pivot 176.

Thus, in the lowered window position shown by the solid lines, thewindow bottom line 1% is inclined with pivot 172 being located asubstantial distance above pivot li'ti. As the actuator rotates thelinks about the central axis at, the angle of inclination of the windowbottom line 186 decreases as indicated at the positions 186a, 186b,1346c until, at the position 186d, the Window bottom line is horizontal.At the same time, the vertical spacing of the pivots 170, 172 changes,as indicated at 176a, 172a and 170b, 172b, and 170C, 172C, until at170d, 172d they are vertically aligned. A corresponding change inposition of links 182, 184 and pivots 174, i176 results. If controllinkage 183, 13% is used, the control linkage and pivots 1'78 will moveas shown.

The atoredescribed linkage is but one example of a non-symmetricalarrangement by which a particular movement may be effected. It is to beunderstood that the control linkage 188, 139 may be deleted or modifiedand that the movement control means may be otherwise provided by, forexample, guide channels as previously discussed.

It is contemplated that the inventive concepts hereinbeforeillustratively shown and described may be variously otherwise embodiedwithout departing from the intended scope of the following claims aslimited by the prior art.

The invention claimed is:

l. An actuator arrangement comprising an actuable device reverselymovable between spaced positions, an actuator device comprising an axialair gap type electrical motor having a disc armature reversely rotatableto effect reverse movement of said actuable device, said actuator devicefurther comprising transmission means integrally associated with saidmotor and including a first reversely rotatable output means formingpart of said transmission means and a second reversely rotatable outputmeans forming part of said transmission means, said first reverselyrotatable output means and said second reversely rotatable output meansbeing simultaneously rotatable relative to one another in oppositedirections, motion controlling means controlling movement of saidactuable device between said spaced positions and of said first andsecond reversely rotatable output means relative to each other, andsupport means movably supporting said actuator device relative to saidactuable device.

2. An actuator arrangement comprising actuable means reversely movablebetween spaced positions, guide means confining movement of saidactuable means to a predetermined path between said spaced positions,reversely operable motor means for efifecting movement of said actuablemeans, output means integral with said motor means and forming a housingtherefor having a pair of housing portions simultaneously operable inopposite directions and being operably connected to said motor means andreversely operable thereby, and linkage means connecting said outputmeans to said actuable means to cause movement of said actuable means inone direction upon selective operation of said motor means in onedirection and to cause reverse movement of said actuable means in theopposite direction upon selective operation of said motor means in theopposite direction.

3. An actuator arrangement for causing substantially rectilinearmovement of a window in a vehicle door or the like between an openposition and a closed position comprising: guide means fixed to saiddoor and guidably receiving said window for movement relative to saiddoor, slide means fixed to said window and including a first trackportion adjacent one side of the window and a second track portionadjacent the opposite side of the window, selectively operablereversible electric motor means for moving the window toward the closedposition when operated in one direction and toward the open positionwhen operated in the opposite direction, said motor means being of theaxial air gap type and having a disk type armature reversibly rotatableabout a central axis of the motor, speed reduction means drivablyconnected to said armature of said motor means and having a firstreversely rotatable output means and a second reversely rotatable outputmeans, said first and second rotatable output means being relativelyrotatable about the central axis and being arranged for simultaneousrotation in opposite directions, said motor means and said reductionmeans being integrally connected as a unit and having a common axis ofrotation, rotatable operating arm means connected to each of said firstand second reversely rotatable output means and being rotatable therebyin opposite directions about said central axis, each of said operatingarm means having a pair of spaced pivotal connections located onopposite sides of said central axis of rotation, a first set ofcorresponding ones of said pivotal connections on said operating armmeans on the same side of said central axis of rotation being slidablyreceived by said slide means on said window for movement along saidslide means toward and away from one another as said window is closedand opened, a second set of corresponding ones of said pivotalconnections on said operating arm means on the same side of said centralaxis of rotation and opposite said first set of correspond 1g ones ofsaid pivotal, connections forming pivotal connections between saidactt=. ator and said door, and movable support means for least one ofsaid second set of corresponding ones of s" pivotal connections movablyconnecting said rotatable output means to said door.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 and wherein said movable supportmeans comprises a second slide means mounted on said door between saidslide means on said window, slide follower means mounted on said secondslide means for movement therealong, connecting link means pivotallyconnected at one end to said slide follower means and extendingoutwardly therefrom on opposite sides thereof, and said second set ofcorresponding pivotal connections being pivotally connected to the otherend of said connecting link means.

5, An actuator unit comprising an axial air gap type motor having a diskarmature rotatable about a central axis, a housing enclosing said motorand said armature, said housing having a pair of oppositely relativelyrotatable output means integrally rotatably mount d on said unit andbeing reversely rotatable about said central axis, pivotal connectingmeans mounted On each of said output means and being radially spacedfrom said. central axis to impart movement to an actuable deviceconnected thereto, and unit support means extending parallel to saidcentral axis and movably supporting the entire unit including the motorand the armature and the housing and the output means.

6. An actuator arrangement comprising an axial air gap type motor,rotatable output means operably connected to said motor, a cylindricalhousing formed for and by said motor and said output means, a pair ofoppositely rotatable operating arm means connected to said output means,each of said operating arm means having a common centrally located axisof rotation and pivotal connecting means located on opposite sides ofsaid centrally located axis of rotation, one of said pivotal connectingmeans of each arm means having a pivotal ax located radially outwardlyfrom said centrally located axis of rotation adjacent the periphery ofsaid cylindrical housing, the other of said pivotal connecting means ofeach arm moans having a pivotal axis located further radially outwardlyfrom said centrally located axis of rotation than the pivotal axis ofsaid one of said pivotal connecting means, support means mounting saidcylindrical housing and said arm means, and bowed movement controllinglinkage means connected between said arm means and arranged so as tocontrol movement of said arm means and arranged so that in one extremeposition of said arm means said bowed linkage means envelopes a portionof said cylindrical housing and is positioned closely adjacent the outercylindrical periphery thereof.

7. An actuator for a reversibly displaceable device such as a vehiclewindow or the like adapted to be mounted within a compartment such as avehicle door or the like and comprising: reversibly operable rotatableelectric motor means mounted within said compartment; rotatabletransmission means connected to said motor means in said compartment; apair of simultaneously oppositely rotatable output means having a commoncentral axis of rotation and being drivably connected to saidtransmission means and adapted to be simultaneously rotatably driven inopposite directions by said motor means about said common central axisof rotation; said motor means and said transmission means and saidoutput means being connected together to form a unit having relativelyrotatable sections, supportingmeans movably supporting said unit andpermitting relative rotation of said sections and said output means andsaid transmission means and said vanes all) motor means; and means forconnecting said output means and said device to cause reversibledisplacement of said device when said motor means is reversiblyoperated.

E The invention as defined in claim 7 and wherein said motor meanscomprises a disk armature motor adapted to be rotatably driven about thecentral axis of rotation of said output means.

9. The invention as defined in claim 3 and wherein said transmissionmeans comprises harmonic drive means operable by a rotatable input meanshaving an axis of rotation coincident with the central axis of rotationof said output means.

it The invention as defined in claim '7 and having a common support forrotatably supporting said motor means, said transmission means, and saidoutput means.

ii. The invention as defined in claim i and wherein said common supportcomprises shaft means fixedly mounted in said compartment, hub meansrotatably mounted and axially confined on said shaft means, and saidmotor means, said transmission means, and said output means beingrotatably supported by said hub means.

12. The invention as defined in claim 7 and wherein said last mentionedmeans comprises elongated radially extending arm means fixedly connectedto said rotatable output means, pivot means at corresponding ends ofsaid arm means pivotally connected to said device, first slide meansproviding a linear track fixedly mounted on said device and slidablysupporting said pivot means to permit variable displacement of the pivotmeans toward and away from one another along said linear track as saidarm means are rotatably driven by said output means, and movable supportmeans supporting the opposite ends of said arm means.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 and wherein said support meanscomprises a second slide means providing a linear track extendingtransversely to said linear track provided by said first slide means,and support linkage means pivotally connected to the opposite ends ofsaid arm means and to said second slide means.

14. An actuator for a displaceable window or the like mounted in avehicle door or the like comprising: guide means for guidably supportingthe window for opening and closing movement between a closed positionand an open position, spaced guideway means mounted on said window andproviding track means extending generally transversely to the path ofmovement of said window, pivotal connecting means slidably mounted insaid guideway means for reciprocable movement toward and away from oneanother during opening and closing movement of said window, a pair ofoppositely rotatable output arms, one of said output arms beingconnected at one end to one of said pivotal connecting means, andanother of said output arms being connected at a corresponding end tothe other of said pivotal connecting means, said output arms beingrotatably supported about a common axis of rotation, slide means adaptedto be mounted on said door, linkage means pivotally connected at one endto said slide means and pivotally connected at the other end to each ofsaid output arms on portions of said output arm means located radiallyoutwardly of said common axis of rotation opposite said pivotalconnecting means, and actuating means mounted on said door and beingoperatively connected to said output arm means to cause reverse rotationof said output arm means about said common axis of rotation, said outputarm means being rotated in opposite directions to cause closing movementof said window when said actuating means is operated in one directionand to cause opening movement of said window when said actuating meansis operated in the reverse direction.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14 and wherein said actuatingmeans comprises a pair of relatively rotatable splined output members,flex spline drive means drivingly engageable with said splined outputmembers, one of said splined output members being rotatably supportedabout said common axis of rotation and fixedly connected to one of saidoutput arms, and another of said splined output members being rotatablysupported about said common axis of rotation and fixedly connected tothe other of said output arm means.

16. The invention as defined in claim and having common support shaftmeans rotatably supporting said splined output members, and said commonaxis of rotation coinciding with the central axis of said support shaftmeans.

17. The invention as defined in claim 16 and having speed reductionmeans drivably engaged with said flex spline means, reversible electricmotor means drivably connected to said speed reduction means, said speedreduction means and said motor means being rotatably supported by saidcommon support shaft means for rotation about said common axis ofrotation.

18. An actuator arrangement comprising an axial air gap type motorhaving a disk armature rotatable about an axially extending central axisof rotation, speed reduction means integrally associated with said motorand being rotatable about the central axis of said disk armature, afirst output means forming part of said reduction means and beingreversely rotatable about the central axis by reverse operation of saidmotor, a second output means forming part of said reduction means andbeing reversely rotatable about the central axis by reverse operation ofsaid motor, said first output means and said second output means beingadapted and arranged to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions, afirst actuating arm means connected to one of said output means andbeing rotatable therewith about the central axis, a second actuating armmeans connected to the other of said output means and being rotatabletherewith about the central axis, said first actuating arm means andsaid second actuating arm means being reversely rotatable simultaneouslyin opposite directions, a first set of pivot connections for connectingsaid actuating arm means to an actuable device, one of said first set ofpivotal connections being located adjacent one end of one of saidactuating arm means, the other of said first set of pivotal connectionsbeing located adjacent the same end of the other of said actuating armmeans, each of said first set of pivotal connections being locatedradially outwardly from the central axis on opposite sides of a planeincluding the central axis and extending parallel to the direction ofmovement of the actuable device, connecting means for connecting saidfirst set of pivotal connections to the actuable device and enablingmovement of said first set of pivot means having transverse componentsof motion, means providing a second set of pivotal connections forsupporting said actuating arm means, one of said second set of pivotalconnections being located adjacent an opposite end of one of saidactuating arm means, the other of said second set of pivotal connectionsbeing located adjacent an opposite end of the other of said actuatingarm means, said second set of pivotal connections being located radiallyoutwardly from the central axis opposite to said first set of pivotalconnections, and support means rnovably supporting said second set ofpivotal connections and permitting relative movement of said motor andsaid reduction unit and said output means and said actuating arm meansabout the central axis.

19. An actuator arrangement comprising an actuable device reverselymovable between spaced positions, sup port means for said actuabledevice including as a component part a reversibly operable rotatableelectric motor, an actuator device reversely rotatable to effect reversemovement of said actuable device and further including as componentparts a first reversely rotatable output means and a second reverselyrotatable output means, said first reversely rotatable output means andsaid second reversely rotatable output means being simultaneouslyrotatable in opposite directions, and support means rotatably supportingand connecting said actuator device and the component parts thereofbetween said actuable device and said support means and permittingrelative rotative movement of said actuator device and the componentparts thereof between said support means and said actuable device assaid actuable device is moved between said spaced positions.

' 20. A power actuator arrangement for an actuable device such as avehicle window or the like which is reversibly movable back and forthbetween spaced positions, comprising:

a pair of rotatable actuator arms rotatable simultaneously oppositelyabout a common axis of rotation,

connecting means on each arm radially spaced from said common axis andadapted to be connected to the actuable device in a manner causingreversible back and forth movement of the actuable device,

reversible electrical motor means having a rotatable annular. armaturemounted for reversible rotation about said axis of rotation,

flexible annular drive spline transmission means mounted circumjacentsaid motor means for reversible rotation about said axis of rotation andconnected to said motor means for driving actuation thereby,

first annular driven output spline transmission means mountedcircumjaccnt said flexible drive spline transmission means and connectedthereto for driving actuation thereby,

second annular driven output spline transmission means mountedcircumjacent said flexible drive spline transmission means and connectedthereto for driving actuation thereby,

one of said rotatable actuator arms being operatively connected to thefirst driven output spline means and rotatably driven thereby,

the other of said rotatable actuator arms being operatively connected tothe second driven output spline means and rotatably driven thereby,

and mounting means mounting said actuator arms and said motor means andsaid transmission means relative to said actuable device so thatoperation of said electrical motor and rotation of said armature andsaid flexible drive spline transmission means causes simultaneousopposite rotation of said first and second driven output splinetransmission means and said rotatable actuator arms.

21. The invention as defined in claim 20 and there being common supportmeans rotatably supporting each of said armature, said flexible drivespline transmission means, said first and second driven output splinetransmission means, and said actuator arms.

22. The invention as defined in claim 20 and said electrical motor meansbeing of the axial air gap type and said armature being a disc typearmature.

23. The invention as defined in claim 24) and said armature beingaxially spaced from said flexible drive spline transmission means andfrom said first and second driven output spline transmission means andfrom said actuator arms.

24. The invention as defined in claim 20 and the actuator componentsbeing associated so as to form an integral self-contained narrow widthunit comprising:

a motor-transmission housing having opposite relatively rotatableportions,

said first and second driven output spline transmission means beingdrivably connected to said relatively rotatable portions of saidhousing,

and said actuator arms being mounted on said relatively rotatableportions of said housing and rotatable therewith.

25. The invention as defined in claim 24 and having common support meansrotatably supporting said armature and said housing portions and saidactuator arms, a portion of said support means being mounted within saidhousing and a portion of said support means extending without saidhousing for mounting of said unit.

26. The invention as defined in claim 25 and said support means radiallysupporting and locating said housing portions, axial locating meansassociated with said support means axially locating said housingportions, and axial and radial locating and supporting means Within saidhousing radially and axially locating and supporting said armature inspaced relationship to said support means.

27. The invention as defined in claim 25 and having support bracketmeans fixed relative to said actuable device, and said support meansbeing attached to said support bracket means and supporting said housingportions and said actuator arms for rotation relative to one another andto the actuable device.

23. The invention as defined in claim 27 and having motion control meansconnected to said actuator arms to control movement of said arms andsaid actuable device.

The invention as defined in claim 28 and wherein said motion controlmeans comprises a control means connecting each actuator arm to saidsupport bracket means.

The invention as defined in claim 29 and having slide means movablerelative to said housing, at least one of said control means beingmounted on and carried by said slide means.

31. The invention as defined in claim 30 and said con- 11 trol meansproviding for non-uniform motion of said actuable device.

32. The invention as defined in claim 31 and said control meansrestricting movement of one of said arms relative to the other of saidarms to cause the non-uniform movement of the actuable device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,039,324 6/1962 Wateifisld74-640 3,101,009 8/1963 Mnsser 74-640 3,166,949 1/1965 Lap 74--640 X3,182,525 5/1965 Tinder et al 74640 3, 09,182 9/1965 74640 X 3,211,26210/1965 74-640 X 3,239,699 3/1966 eirary 3l0-83 1,720,063 7/1929 4935l2,304,245 12/1942 49349 X ,793,907 5/1957 Hess et al. 49-349 X FOREIGNPATENTS 581,480 10/1946 Great Britain.

BELL, Assistant Examiner.

Patent No. 3,373,528

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION March 19, 1968David V. Tinder et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 61, "invention" should read inventive Column 4, line 50,affer Vert'ical" insert reciprocation, or now-symmetrical, as shown'inFig.10,'t0 produce line 61, "pivatal" should read pivotal Column 5, line3, "inermost" should read innermost line 5, "selctively" should readselectively Column 9, line 65, after "device" insert an actuator deviceline 67, cancel "an actuator device"; line 73, "rotatably" should readmovably Signed and sealed this 5th day of August 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

